May 26, 2023

G azette -R epo R te R

RiveRs BanneR

Serving the Rivers, Rapid City, Forrest, Kenton and Oak River areas for 115 years

MHSRA presents the Rapid City Rodeo

By Jessica Coulter Rivers Banner

Local high school and junior high riders had their chance to shine last weekend. On Saturday May 20 and Sunday May 21, the Manitoba High School Rodeo Association (MHSRA) held their May long competition in Rapid City. The weather was cool, and the competition was strong.

Easton Beernaerts from Rapid City,

Can collections for canoes

KENTONLENORE GRADS 2023 P6-7

Awearing #11, competed in junior high barrel racing placing 8th on Saturday and 5th on Sunday. She also competed in the junior high girl’s goat tying and placed 4th on Saturday and 9th on Sunday. Placed 20th in junior high pole bending on Saturday and 6th place on Sunday. Placed 14th in junior high ribbon roping on Saturday and 2nd on Sunday.

tion to the schools. Pupils co-ordinated the entire month-long promotion, which culminated in a ceremonious presentation on March 20 to Riverdale Harvest president Heather Gray and Liliane. Because the snow had melted so much, the canoe could not be portaged across the street to Zion Church (home of Riverdale Harvest). Rather, the teens carried bags, boxes and garbage

Boden Bond from Kenton, wearing #4, competed in junior high boy’s break-

s reported in the March 9 edition, the Grade 12 Interdisciplinary Studies in Science class at Rivers Collegiate planned a project for Riverdale Harvest. Dubbed the Boat Load of Food, students secured a canoe from Rolling River School Division with an intent to fill it with non-perishables. Although the campaign was fully organized by that class, the original idea came from a suggestion made by harvest volunteer Liliane Dupuis.

cans from the school foyer into the church basement the afternoon of March 21, where the food was weighed and sorted. Although the project was a senior students brainstorm, the entire high school was encouraged to participate. The collegiate hosted a poor boy floor hockey tournament in which to play, athletes had to pay with food for the canoe. Some students also canvassed Rivers, Oak River

and Chimo Beach areas for contributions from the community.

away placing 5th on Saturday and 2nd on Sunday. He also competed in the junior high boy’s goat tying and placed 6th on Saturday and 1st on Sunday. Placed 10th in junior high chute dogging on Saturday and 1st on Sunday. Placed 11th in junior high ribbon roping on Saturday and 5th on Sunday. He also competed in junior high team roping placing 1st on Saturday, and 7th on Sunday.

When all was said and done, the scales at Riverdale Harvest noted a total of 434 pounds, “a fabulous amount,” says Heather.

“We are so pleased they decided to help those we serve. A lot of times kids don’t get enough credit but this group of students certainly deserves some praise.

All students stayed behind to help check expiry dates, sort and

continued on page 12

put away in the proper place on the shelving units. They were fantastic! We are very, very pleased.”

Elementary school staff member/Harvest volunteer Yvonne Crouch initiated a similar campaign in her school. That threeweek effort simply encouraged students to leave product in the canoe; 87 pounds of food was collected from the younger group on Thursday, March 22.

PHOTOS BY JONNA MITTON PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOS BY JONNA MITTON PHOTOGRAPHY

Photo by Sheila Runions

Photo by Heather Gray

Back row L/R: Meghan Knelsen, Erich Schmidt, Thom Heijmans, Heather Gray, Liliane Dupuis. Front row L/R: Minami Kijima, Haile Hubbard, Chassidy Payette, Morgan Ramsay, Bryce Summers, Quinn Hrabok.

Tundra

By Chad Carpenter

Labels and such

Iam convinced that more than ever before in history, we have assigned labels to more things, people and conditions than ever. Labels can be helpful, but they can also be very harmful.

It gets further complicated by the fact that we don’t have a lot of control over some of the labelling. We are repeatedly told that we can be whatever we want to be but that advice needs to be constantly evaluated as to whether the label we attach to things, people and conditions are real or valid. Some labels are unchangeable, others are questionable and many are absolutely unnecessary.

Let’s look at my personal example. I am a human, that’s a certainty and I had no choice in the matter. I was born a Canadian, again no choice. I could move to another country and change my citizenship but I would still always have been born a Canadian. I was born a Waddell, over which I had no choice; I could change my name, but the name under which I was born can never change. I am a male, albeit an old one. My age changes every day, but I had no choice in my gender and, quite frankly, it makes no sense to me to fuss about it. I am a husband, a father, grandfather and great grandfather. I had a choice about being a father, but had I not become one, obviously the latter two titles would not have happened.

So what’s the point? The point is that some labels are automatic and some are by choice.

It seems today that everything and everybody has to be labelled. Probably the most useless of labelling is the ones we put on people. If you were born in Canada or have become a Canadian, you are Canadian. I care about peoples’ backgrounds, it’s fun to discuss heritage but we are all Canadians, not hyphenated Canadians. I am all for history and heritage but we need to have a bigger, greater goal in building our country and

Homebodies

Rita Friesen

Simple wisdom

The book on my bedside table is ‘Simple Wisdom for a Complicated World; Amish Peace’, by Suzanne Woods Fisher, published in 2009. After the shooting at West Nickel Mines where ten little girls were shot, four of them dying. There are many references to forgiveness. Under the headings: Simplicity, Time, Community, Forgiveness, and The Sovereignty of God.

Right in the Centre

Ken Waddell

communities than to have an unhealthy clinging to our heritage.

Political labelling can be harmful too.

Another type of labelling has a profound effect on our society and especially on our politics. We have an election coming in Manitoba and it promises to be a hard fought one. Already we see a lot of political advertising. I find the union ads particularly annoying, they simply shouldn’t be allowed and here’s why.

Elections are based on one-personone-vote. Often, only 60 per cent of voters bother to cast their ballot. Many unions come out in favour of a candidate or a party. The problem is that the union doesn’t have the authority to apply a politicial label to all its members as I can guarantee all members don’t agree with the stated union stand. When a union takes a stand for or against a political party or candidate, the assumption is that all members will vote the same way. Also, in my career, I have known of many cases where union members were clearly instructed and bullied as to how they “must” vote. And the unions have gotten away with it. Union members have been told they, “have to vote a certain way” or they will lose their jobs.

For years, unions in Manitoba got behind former NDP premier Gary Doer’s rallying cry that. “The Tories fired a 1,000 nurses.” It was a lie but it didn’t matter, Doer used it for years.

The unions parroted it and many people still believe it.

Some will be upset when I say unions should not take a political stand but those same people would be very upset if the Chambers of Commerce came out in support of a particular party. How would they respond if the Association of Manitoba Municipalities did that? Or how about the Manitoba Simmental Cattle association supporting a party?

In the same way that I get upset when a union or organization expresses support for a party, I don’t like it when a newspaper comes out in favour of a candidate or party. If an editor (such as myself) or a columnist supports a party, that is one thing, but if a newspaper does so, there is an assumption that all the employees echo that support and they may not. They may well vote differently than a particular owner/publisher or editor. Their vote is sacred, just as every vote is sacred. Votes and voters should never fear how they vote.

In Manitoba, only individuals can donate to a political party but there is no limit on how much unions can spend on ads supporting or opposing a party.

There’s another little wrinkle in all this process. I am pretty sure when the NDP have a convention, a large percentage of the delegates are appointed by the unions. So much for one-person-one-vote.

We need to be very careful about how we apply labels. There’s often a lot hidden behind the label.

I re-read this book annually to remind myself of values I hold dear. Under the first heading there is a chapter ‘Small-Scale Living’ and the accompanying quote is the Amish proverb– We live simply so others may simply live. This tied in with a conversation I had this week with an individual who is preparing to say farewell to this life. Reviewing one’s life is standard at this stage. We pondered why so many folks never are satisfied, never have enough. This isn’t a new thought for me. I am thankful that I have enough, and to share. Am I wealthy? Not by this world’s standards, but I have enough, more than enough. The individual with whom I was speaking reviewed the time they were offered a parcel of farm land, expand one’s holding. With thought and reflection, the decision was to not purchase more land, what they held title to was enough. A small scale farm in today’s world, but enough.

‘More is caught than taught’, reminds us to us our time wisely, especially with children and seniors. Our actions, whatever our age, still speak louder than our words. In the Amish society children are valued, loved and never indulged or spoilt. They contribute to the welfare of the family unit. The parents most often move into a small house beside the big house when the farm passes to the younger generation. They are cared for by the community. Which leads to the next section.

Community: ‘Do unto others as if you were the other’. Amish Proverb. One of the illustrations is how the community rallied when one of the men was hospitalized in harvest time. While he was in care the neighbours joined forces and got the crop safely in. The woman sharing says; “ When Willis was in the hospital, I could so clearly see the fruits of the Spirit in action, all done in love. If people had only come and wished us well, that alone would not have done the work. Faith and works go hand in hand.” How often do we hear about folks extending thoughts and prayers…

Part Four addresses forgiveness. Here again the examples are real and moving. Quotes– ‘The person who forgives does more for himself than for anyone else.’ ‘Good deeds have echoes’. ‘Blessed are they who have nothing to say, and cannot be persuaded to say it.’ And my favourite-‘ Swallowing words before you say them is so much better than having to eat them afterward.’

The final section speaks on the sovereignty of God. The Amish live apart from the worldly ways, and their definition of worldly does vary from mine. And that’s ok. True for all of us– ‘Opportunity may knock once, but temptation bangs on your front door forever’. Amish Proverb. Putting life and faith and a faith filled life into perspective- “ Before we can pray ‘Thy kingdom come’, we must pray ‘my kingdom go’.”

Acouple meets, falls in love and decides to get married. When they share that news with their families, it is greeted with shock and horror. “He’s not right for you,” her family says. “She’s the wrong person for you,” his family says. And from that day on, intensive efforts are made to get the couple to end the relationship and go their separate ways and each marry people that meet with their families’ approval..

Are those efforts successful? Occasionally. But more often than not, they have the opposite effect. The lovers go some place where they can be alone, evaluate their relationship and decide that they will marry (with or without their families’ blessing), stay together, work together and stand together against those who would try to quench their love and destroy their relationship. They make an irrevocable commitment. “We will survive, we will thrive, we will show those naysayers how wrong they are.”

always wonder if bowing to family pressure was the right thing to do. And when marrying those their families chose for them doesn’t work out well, everyone learns an important lesson: “Be careful what you wish for. You might not like what you get.”

Those words come to mind whenever I hear or read stories of people who favor banning a news network from being carried by cable or satellite systems in Canada; or who are asking that some books be banned from public school libraries because of their content.

Personally, I have no quarrel with those who find content broadcast over the air waves to be offensive. I don’t like some of it either. In fact, a few years ago I stopped watching cable news networks, listening to “talk radio” and reading major newspapers because I did not want to read, hear or watch material that, in my view, did more to advance the network’s political, moral and social agenda than give readers and listeners the facts and let them draw their own conclusions about the content that was presented.

As for books, I agree with those who suggest that some publications contain material that is not suitable for younger readers. I endorse efforts by public and school libraries and other media outlets to identify certain publications and programs as “inappropriate for some age groups.” There’s nothing wrong with that.

greater following than it had before.

So how can we keep media content that defies our political, social, moral or religious views from exerting a harmful influence on us and on those we love? Governments will not do that for us; and we should not expect them to. The guidelines they set will reflect the views of our pluralistic society and protect our rights, as free people, to debate the issues of the day in an atmosphere of mutual respect for all points of view. Governments cannot teach us how to discern which views are constructive and which are not. That must come from another source-which will be identified next week.

Wordsearch

Sometimes, the families’ efforts are successful and the couple ends the relationship. Do things turn out better for them? Sometimes. But they will

But I do not agree with those who advocate blocking news networks or banning books from library shelves. These initiatives often have the opposite effect. People will watch the news network or read the book out of curiosity, wondering what all the fuss is about. And those who want to limit the spread of content they find offensive will, as a result of their efforts, actually give it more publicity and a

Words can be found in any direction (including diagonals) and can overlap each other. Use the word bank below.

Sundays 10 a.m.

Children’s Church during the message Bible Study – Thursdays 7:30 p.m.

Rapid City Community ChuRCh JESUS IS LORD

Western Disability Day

Brandon, MB. – The Provincial Exhibition of Manitoba, in association with both the Brandon and Wheat City Lions Clubs are pleased to announce the return of Westman Disability Day to the Manitoba Summer Fair.

While the Fair is scheduled to run from June 7-11th in Brandon, Westman Disability Day has been scheduled for Thursday, June 8 from 1-3pm.

This year’s event will feature a delicious lunch, hosted by Heritage Co-op, is open to all individuals who experience physical and/or intellectual disabilities (and their caregivers). In addition to lunch, these Western Manitobans will have the opportunity to enjoy the midway at their own pace. Because it is a closed event, there will be a variety of midway rides available as well as an exclusive tour of the KidZone, Petting Zoo attractions and Dr. Von Houligan’s Family Extravaganza!

New this year to Westman Disability Day, there will be a horse drawn wheelchair accessible wagon rides. For those interested in attending, you must register on www.provincialexhibition.com or by contacting our Dome Building office at (204) 726-3590. These tick-

The

ets must be picked up at the Provincial Exhibition office or online before arriving at the admission gates that day.

“Westman Disability Day is very dear to me,” says Provincial Exhibition Program and Volunteer Manager Kristen Laing Breemersch. “I believe that everyone deserves the same opportunities within a safe environment. The Provincial Ex is an inclusive organization that provides education, activities and entertainment to all ages and skill levels.”

“We’re so excited to have this event back and feel fortunate to have the generous support from Heritage Co-op and Brandon’s two Lions clubs,” she added.

This day has been made possible this year thanks to the generous financial support from the Brandon and Wheat City Lions clubs as well as Operation Red Nose Brandon and the Westman & Area Traditional Christmas Dinner.

June garden!

General admission and POP (Pay one Price) tickets are also available at www.provincialexhibition.com as well as both Brandon and Minnedosa Heritage Co-op food banks. As well, “free” children’s general admission passes are available online until Tuesday, June 6. Fantastic food, family fun, entertainment and the thrill of the midway! The Manitoba Summer fair is how we’ve been kicking off summer in Manitoba for over 130 years.

Scent in the summer garden

Submitted Rivers Banner

Every year it seems we have a different weather pattern as we move into the growing season. Our spring this year has been cool, with many of the leaves still not fully out or just beginning to show that wonderful green of spring. In my garden, although the scilla and tarda tulips have completed their bloom, there are still many more regular tulips that are just now showing colour.

The asparagus is doing a wonderful job of providing us with fresh, tasty greens that we so thoroughly enjoy. However, our soils are dry and everything that is not fully established is needing supplemental watering. I have already watered all the new areas that were planted with perennials last season a couple of times. Looking at the winds, the temperatures and listening to what the plants are telling me, I will be hauling out the hoses again today.

I always think that when the hostas come up – we truly have hit temperatures that are conducive to all the heat-loving things that we grow. I have yet to see any signs of any of the hostas poking through the surface of the soil. I am in one way thankful for that as it seems my spring gardening chores have not all been completed.

Take the hardy (or not so hardy) shrub roses. Some seem to have been hit hard last winter. Remember, that usually by the time June rolls around, we should be able to see what has survived and prune the hardy shrub roses appropriately. Simply prune back those branches that have died or are not growing in a good shrublike shape. Some roses will bloom more if you prune off the spent blooms so this is really the only chores necessary to keep our hardy shrub roses happy!

Right now in my front yard, there are a multitude of blooms. The Saskatoon berries are in full bloom, the ornamental crabs are looking spectacular, as are the flowering almonds. The plums and cherries have almost finished their bloom and the only thing yet to boast her beauty is the Ohio buckeye. It is a real pleasure to see the full bloom of our trees and shrubs. Hopefully, we will get rain, but otherwise, I guess I will need to provide the water so necessary to size up the fruit!

Take your lawn mower blades to a professional to have them sharpened. Dull blades make ragged cuts and invite diseases. Clean and sharpen hand tools. If pruning shears are full of dried sap, clean with steel wool and then lightly oil.

As the temperatures rise, and the soil dries, take time to ensure you are watering deeply and thoroughly. If you are unsure how much to water in your perennial beds, take a trowel and dig down a few inches. After watering, the soil should be moist well below the root zone. This encourages deep rooting of your plants which helps them to withstand short periods of drought. Water early in the morning as the temperature is lower and the wind is generally not a problem.

Use a brush to clean out plant pots and containers. Soak them in 1-part chlorine bleach to 9 parts water for 30 minutes to get rid of any disease-carrying organisms which may be present.

As you begin to work in the perennial beds, watch where you put your feet. There are still many new emerging shoots which are very tender. It is the ideal time to mulch around your perennials and to look for budding insect and disease problems. Weeding is such a never-ending chore but short work is made of it by catching those problems early – while the invaders are still small.

Summer evenings are fabulous for enjoying the sweet and yes, romantic scents of your garden. Summer on the prairies is short so spending as much time as possible outside is always recommended. If you have a spot in your garden that you frequent in the evening…. or even in the later evening then plan to plant to include marvelous scent. Better yet, plant a window box or other suitable planting outside your bedroom window. As the cool night air wafts into your bedroom, it could carry the evocative scents of a host of truly exotic flowers that might only bloom at night.

Many of the night blooming plants are very sweetly scented and will emit their fragrance at night in order to attract insects for pollination. Some of my favourite scented plants like wisteria, magnolia and gardenia will not survive in our prairie climate – but there are lots of scented plants we can grow very well.

For the best lemon scent (and taste) in the world plant some lemon verbena. It is a truly delicious scent that conjures up the extreme pleasure of sucking on lemon sherbet sweets. Tangy on the outside while at the same time being extremely refreshing on the inside. On the prairies this is a tender herb that is best grown in a container of some kind. Bring it inside in the autumn, give it a variety of life support treatment before you finally cut it back, let it rest in preparation of another summer outside.

Other annuals that have lots of scent for summer include any of the scented geraniums. Lemon, peppermint, rose and even chocolate scents are available. You might also get the added benefit of enjoying them inside for at least part of the winter. A must for every garden is evening scented stock. This is a rather small plant that comes to life after dark to reveal purple flowers that carry a wonderful spicy scent that will literally ambush those in close proximity. A couple of other great choices are nicotiana and heliotrope. Nicotiana (a member of the tobacco family) is a simply splendid flower that becomes intensely scented at night. The ivory flowers are most scented but it also is available in pink, red, and green. Heliotrope is a temperate perennial native to Peru and should be planted in full sun but in a rich humus soil that is kept evenly moist.

Brugmansia is a fast-growing bushy plant with large trumpetlike flowers. They are extremely fragrant with a spicy, exotic scent. Please do be cautious as all parts of this plant are poisonous.

Even though we garden in a rather extreme climate, it is still possible to grow lavender as an annual. Give it full sun and well-drained soil. The purple to white flowers are a marvel and emit a very complex scent. Once harvested the aroma will subtly change as the days pass by.

Our hardy shrub roses are not to ever be ignored in the scent category. Rosa rugosa is an old time rose that is not the best to view or grow but makes up for any shortcoming in beauty by its truly exquisite scent. On the hottest days’ plan to place your nose close to the warm summer scent of a rugosa rose blossom and create a memory that is truly unequaled.

Other favourites that surely should not be forgotten include sweet peas, lilac, mock orange and thyme.

And finally, take some time to explore the wonders of all that is available in the local nurseries and greenhouses. Who knows what might follow you home?

Submitted Rivers Banner

Oak River arena is getting an upgrade

2023 Building Sustainable Communities Projects Riding Mountain constituency

Submitted Rivers Banner

Since being introduced in 2019, the Building Sustainable Communities program has provided municipalities and non-profit organizations access to all-encompassing community grants. This year the total funding across Manitoba is $25 million. Of that total, projects in the Riding Mountain constituency received $1,217,584.

•Cromer Rink, upgrade skating rink including roof, eavestroughing and interior ceiling - $137,436

•Elkhorn Memorial Park Restoration Committee, upgrade park including accessible play structure, walking path and solar lamps - $200,000

•Reston Rec Plex, upgrade multi-plex including canteen and viewing area - $131,100

•Rural Municipality of Yellowhead, upgrade Lakeview Park including a splash pad - $273,119

•Birdtail Valley Tennis Club, upgrade tennis court at

Birtle including repairs and addition of pickleball and basketball courts - $41,200

•Dennis County Planning District, review and update development plan - $50,000

•Miniota Community Centre, upgrade rink including floor, washrooms, lighting and CO2 detectors - $14,437

•Minnedosa Community Complex Board, upgrade the community complex including curling rink repairs - $3,000

•Municipality of Clanwilliam-Erickson, review and update development plan - $40,000

•Municipality of ElliceArchie, upgrade rodeo arena and campground including announcer stand, fully serviced campsites, washrooms, picnic tables and internet - $75,000

•Oak River Community Association Inc., upgrade the arena including lighting - $7,042

•Rural Municipality of Oakview, upgrade Rapid City beach area including playground structure, walk-

Funding announcements in the town of Rivers with Cliff Cullen

ing path, install a multi-use sports court, and repair the existing pavilion - $50,000

•Score Store Inc., build a trail system at Leda Lake including floating boardwalk, pathways, seating areas, lighting and interpretive signs - $75,000

•Shoal Lake Communiplex Board, equipment for facility including an ice resurfacer - $40,471

•Snowtraxx Snowmobile Club, replace two warmup shelters on the Snowman trails - $17,929

•Birtle Agricultural Society, upgrade fair grounds including building a wash rack - $3,075

•Town of Virden, upgrade community park including washroom facilities - $49,875

•Virden and Rural New Horizons Centre Inc., upgrade the centre including new door and electrical - $3,900

•Virden Dog Park, build dog park including fencing, benches, picnic tables, recycling/garbage cans and signage - $5,000

Submitted Rivers Banner

These are the funding amounts that are being announced in Rivers on May 19 with MLA Cliff Cullen in attendance.

Rivers:

Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund: (Lon Schwartz – Chief) $13,217.00

Arts Culture & Sports: Community Celebrations Program

Rivers Train Station (Donna Morken) $5000.00

Building Sustainable Communities:

Riverdale Municipality (Heather Lamb): Rivers Community Centre Upgrades –$ 28,800.00

Rivers and area Game & Fish (Kelvin Lamb): Gun Range Upgrade Phase 3$13,200.00

Total $ 42,000.00

Green Teams:

Riverdale Recreation Commission: $ 9,496.00

Riverdale Municipality: $5998.05

Royal Canadian Legion #75: $4,183.20

Rivers Baseball Association: $2,945.95

Total: $22,623.20

The grand total of money coming into the Rivers area is $82,840.20

Time to Keep Federal Advertising Dollars in Canada

of Title 47 of the United States Code. They enjoy all the benefits of being a publisher without any of the obligations.

Submitted Rivers Banner

The Canadian government has supported journalism for generations. Since the founding of Canada’s first newspaper, the Halifax Gazette, which dates to 1752, government advertising has been an important source of revenue for newspapers. Even prior to Confederation, direct supports, like the former Publications Assistance Program, which subsidized the postal delivery of non-daily newspapers, ensured that Canadians have access to high-quality Canadian news.

Twenty years ago, the federal government spent $110 million on advertising, which was managed by 30 advertising agencies. Print newspapers and magazines accounted for about one-third of federal advertising spending, while internet advertising accounted for less than 1 per cent of the spend.

Last year, the Government of Canada spent a total of $140 million on advertising, involving one Agency of Record for

media planning and placement. While the one Agency of Record model is efficient, we are concerned with where scarce ad dollars are being spent.

Last year, just $6 million or five per cent of federal advertising dollars went toward print publications. That is a far cry from the roughly one-third of twenty years ago. For comparison, government spending on Facebook/Instagram ads alone accounted for almost double what is spent on all print advertising combined. And the spending on Twitter, Snapchat, and TikTok combined was greater than all print expenditures.

Today, digital advertising accounts for more than 50 per cent of all federal ad spending. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, which is suing Google, the company “pockets on average more than 30 per cent of the advertising dollars that flow through its digital advertising technology products.”

Social media companies operating in Canada do not employ journalists and they are shielded from liability by Section 230

Digital search and social giants have contributed greatly to connecting people, businesses, and communities. Yet, there have been unintended consequences. While they provide the essential plumbing of our digital age, they have not figured out a way to separate the clean drinking water (e.g., fact-based news and information) from the sewage (e.g., fake news).

Trusted news sources provide an important filter that helps Canadians make informed choices. Real journalism, which is based on editorial judgment and rigorous fact-checking, costs real money, which comes from advertising and/or subscription revenue. Canadian news publishers employ real journalists, who adhere to strict editorial standards, and publishers can be held liable for their content. Yet, federal advertising dollars that once helped fund our newsrooms have shifted largely to Big Tech companies that benefit from our content.

The federal government has recognized that the business of journalism is in trouble. It has taken steps to fill news deserts and areas of news poverty through the Local Journalism Initiative. It has also

introduced Bill C-18, the Online News Act, which will allow publishers to come together to negotiate fair content licensing agreements with web giants and level the digital playing field.

One of the most powerful tools in any government’s policy toolkit is procurement. Procurement can help governments advance socio economic policy objectives, including job creation, and deliver better outcomes. Indeed, the federal government’s Policy on Social Procurement facilitates and supports the inclusion of socio-economic measures in procurement to support the goal of achieving best value for the Crown and, in turn, for Canadians.

Isn’t it time for the federal government to align its advertising spending with its public policy goal of supporting accountable and trusted sources of information? Isn’t it time to support the home team and keep advertising dollars, which support fact-based, fact-checked civic journalism, in Canada? The consequences of inaction are more misinformation and disinformation, a less informed and engaged citizenry, less robust public discourse, and a loss of community.

Paul Deegan is president and chief executive officer of News Media Canada

SUBMITTED PHOTO

CONGRATULATIONS

Kenton, MB

Hamiota Collegiate

Birthday: April 11, 2005

Parents: Chris and Karly Wright

Sibling: Caleb, Josh, Griffin, Sage, Carter

Pets: Smiley and Duke

First Job: Town of Kenton

Hobbies: Volleyball, Hunting and Fishing

Favourite food: Seafood

Favourite artist: Morgan Wallen

Dream vacation spot: Sacramento California

Future Plans: Trades School

Birthday: September 13, 2005

Parents: Kelly & Tanya Slimmon

Sibling: Easton

Pets: Two dogs, Lul and Honey, Barn cats, three horses and a bunch of cows

First Job: Redferns Farm Services

Hobbies: Rodeo, snowmobiling, hunting and feedng cows

Introvert or Extrovert: Extrovert

Who do you look up to: Hailey Kinsel

Favourite thing about your school: Playing basketball

Favourite food: Taco salad

Favourite song: Pretty Good at Drinking Beer

Favourite artist: Cody Johnson

Dream vacation spot: Bora Bora

Favourite holiday: Christmas

At 12, at did you want to grow up to be: Horse

Trainer/Firefighter

Future Plans: Attend Lakeland College to study Agriculture Sustainability and continue my Rodeo Career

Kenton, MB Hamiota Collegiate

Birthday: August 30, 2005

Parents: Darryl Kent & Trisha Malobar

Sibling: Shantel, Darrah, Bridger, Gregor, Leighton

Pets: A dog and farm animals

First Job: Redferns Farm Services

Hobbies: Camping, hunting and fishing

Introvert or Extrovert: Both

Who do you look up to: My dad

Favourite thing about your school: Playing volleyball and hockey

Favourite food: Steak

Favourite artist: Morgan Wallen

Dream vacation spot: Italy

Favourite holiday: Christmas

At 12, at did you want to grow up to be: Mechanic

Future Plans: Finishing schooling to be become a mechanic and then looking for a custom shop

Ellie Slimmon Lenore, MB Virden Collegiate

Owen Cal

Garrett Kent

CLASS OF 2023

Birthday: July 6, 2005

Parents: Tyler & Pam Bond

Sibling: Sister Hudson, Brother Boden

Pets: Horses – Tommy, George, Willie & many others that are our families Dogs – Luna, Remi & Buffy Cat - Smoke

First Job: Working for neighbors – yard work

Hobbies: Rodeo (barrels, pole bending & breakaway), trap shooting, light rifle & snowmobiling

Who do you look up to: Jordon Briggs – professional barrel racer

Favourite food: Chicken fingers

Favourite song: Yeah

Favourite artist: Usher

Dream vacation spot: Fort Worth, Texas to watch Rodeo

Favourite holiday: Christmas

At 12, at did you want to grow up to be: Agronomist

Future Plans: I am attending Olds College in Olds, Alberta where I will be taking Agricultural Management Program – Production Major. I also signed on the Olds Bronco Rodeo team where I will be barrel racing & pole bending in the Canadian College Rodeo Association.

Birthday: May 3, 2003

Parents: Ed Hunter & Diana Dafoe

Sibling: Jasmine Powell, Jacob Dafoe, Hannah

MacDonald

Pets: Miniature Poodles Mando &Ventress, Border

Collie – Crock, Cats – Dickens, Mittens and Juniper

First Job: Working on the Farm

Hobbies: Hockey and Beef 4H

Introvert or Extrovert: Introvert

Who do you look up to: My Dad

Favourite thing about your school: My classmates

Favourite food: Cheeseburger

Favourite artist: Luke Homes

Dream vacation spot: Mexico

Favourite holiday: Christmas

At 12, at did you want to grow up to be: Veterinarian

Future Plans: Farming with my dad and hopefully become a bus driver

LOOK HOO’S GRADUATING!

It's a group of outstanding young men and women. Who are these wise, smart and talented students? The Class of 2023!

Kenton, MB Homeschooled

Birthday: May 8, 2005

Parents: Walter and Laurie Kroeker

Sibling: Melody, Jonathan, William and Juanita

Pets: These are my favorite pets: our Norwegian elkhounds, highland and the peafowl

First Job: Driving Tractor and Grain Cart for Robert

Stevenson

Hobbies: Sewing, Baking, Cooking, Reading, Judo, and Working with animals

Introvert or Extrovert: Introvert

Who do you look up to: My Mom and My Dad

Favourite thing about your school: I liked being able to have the privilege of having the time to explore anything that interested me.

Favourite food: Pizza or Cheesecake

Favourite song: Humble and Kind

Favourite artist: Tim McGraw

Dream vacation spot: To see the Sea Of Stars in the Maldives

Favourite holiday: Canada Day!

At 12, at did you want to grow up to be: Driving farm equipment like my Dad

Future Plans: Volunteer Firefighting, and a job that keeps me afloat (both of which I already have), Growing my cleaning Business and Possibly going to Germany to be an Au pair.

Grads of

Rudy Bond Kenton, MB Hamiota Collegiate

Tasha Cummer

Lenore, MB Virden Collegiate

Marita Kroeker

Cliff Cullen MLA for Spruce Woods

We wish you the best of luck as you take the next step on your journey, and every happiness along the way!

Submitted

Rivers Banner

Members of council present: Reeve Ches Bollman, Councillors Neil Waldner, Gregg Campbell, Rod Paterson, Wes Pankratz, Cameron Hales and Melissa Bromley; Chief Administrative Officer, Shawna Paulsen; and Administrative Assistant, Christy Burdeniuk

Council held an “In Camera” session as per Section 152(3)(B)(II) of The Municipal Act.

Business arising from minutes - The Minnedosa Area Veterinary Services District Board met and would like to work together with Elton to draft an interim agreement for Veterinary Services.

Elton Strategic Plan

Paterson/Hales

Be it resolved that Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby approve the RFP from GovFox dated April 6, 2023, in the amount of $10,000.00 plus taxes for the Elton Strategic Plan. Carried

Campbell/Bromley

Be it resolved that Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby accept and file the Financial Statement for the month ending April 30, 2023, as prepared on a cash basis. Carried

Campbell/Pankratz

Be it resolved that Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby approve cheques in the amount of $154,247.50; and Direct Deposits in the amount of $61,731.40 for a total of $215,978.90. Carried

Hales/Pankratz

Be it resolved that Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby give third and final reading to By-Law No. 1655 to repeal By-law No. 1502 (Agmt. with HMQ for Gas Tax Rebate 2015-2019) and consider it passed. Carried with one abstention.

Waldner/Campbell

Be it resolved that Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby give third and final reading to By-Law No. 1656 to repeal By-laws 1228, 1237 and 1315 (Fire Protection Services with CFB Shilo from 1997-2010) and consider it passed. Carried with one abstention.

Hales/Bromley

Council gave second and third reading to By-Law No. 1657 (Granting a Franchise to Centra Gas Manitoba Inc.).

Paterson/Waldner

Be it resolved that Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby give third and final reading to By-Law No 1657 (Granting a Franchise to Centra Gas Manitoba Inc.) and consider it passed.

Carried with one abstention.

Council gave second and third reading to By-Law No. 1658 (2023 Mill Rate). Carried with one abstention.

Pankratz/Hales

Whereas the Department of Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure (MTI) issued a Guide for PermitsDevelopment Adjacent to Provincial Highways (Guide) in the January 2019 edition.

And whereas examples under 1.2 of the Guide states that “Unsafe highway accesses can result from inappropriately located and frequently placed accesses, as highway vehicles may have limited time to react to vehicles entering, exiting, or crossing a highway (especially at unexpected or confusing locations). High speed highways have a higher potential for more severe and fatal collisions”;

And whereas Section 3.1 of the Guide states “The role of providing access to individual developments is best suited for internal roads (i.e. not provincial highways)”;

And whereas Section 4 of the Guide states “The placement, design and illumination of signs is important to ensure vehicles can travel safely without obstruction, and to minimize distractions to motorists. This section applies to all signs within the controlled area”;

RM of Elton Draft Meeting Minutes notes -

May 9, 2023

And whereas Section 4.1 (2) states “The following should be avoided (2) A sign, any portion of which is capable of, or is intended to move”;

And whereas Section 4.2 (2) states “The sign must not be erected or located closer than: a. three metres to the highway right-of-way b. a distance as directed by MI c. a distance which is sufficiently far from the travelled portion of any adjacent highway that, if the sign fell, it would not result in the sign falling on that portion of the highway d. whichever is the greater of the above”;

And whereas after several discussions and meetings with Manitoba Transportation and Infrastructure Ministers, local MLA’s, local MP’s and Developers requesting the elimination of temporary accesses due to public safety concerns in Southwestern Manitoba;

Therefore be it resolved that the AMM lobby the Province of Manitoba to ensure all entities, including the Province of Manitoba, follow the guidelines outlined in the Guide;

And further be it resolved that the AMM lobby the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada to jointly act to ensure that all existing temporary high traffic unsafe accesses that were approved through the development stage be removed immediately to ensure the safety of the travelling public;

And further be it resolved that the AMM lobby the Province of Manitoba and the Government of Canada to jointly act to ensure that all new temporary accesses adjacent to provincial highways be limited to a six-month period to ensure the safety of the travelling public. CARRIED Paterson/Campbell

Whereas Manitoba Environment and Climate through the Drainage & Water Control regulate drainage within the Province of Manitoba through The Water Rights Act;

And whereas in Section 2 of The Water Rights Act states: Property in water

2 - Except as otherwise provided in this Act, all property in, and all rights to the use, diversion or control of, all water in the province, insofar as the legislative jurisdiction of the Legislature extends thereto, are vested in the Crown in right of Manitoba.

And whereas all persons including municipalities must obtain a valid and subsisting license as per Section (1) (a), (b) and (c) of the Act which states: Prohibition against use of water

3(1) - Except as otherwise provided in this Act or the regulations, no person shall

(a) in any manner whatsoever use or divert water, unless he or she holds a valid and subsisting licence to do so; or

(b) construct, establish, operate or maintain any works, unless he or she holds a valid and subsisting licence to do so; or

(c) control water or construct, establish, operate or maintain any water control works, unless he or she holds a valid and subsisting licence to do so.

And whereas it has become cost prohibitive and time consuming for municipalities to control water within each respective boundary specifically for:

Applying for a Water Control Works License to replace 12-16” (300mm - 400mm) culverts with 18” (450mm) culverts in rural municipal roads and approaches when the 12-16” (300mm - 400mm) culverts are frequently blocked from freezing and animal obstructions due to the diameter.

Therefore be it resolved that the AMM lobby Manitoba Environment and Climate, Drainage & Water Control to amend The Water Rights Act to allow municipalities the ability to replace 12” – 16” (300mm - 400mm) culverts in rural municipal roads and approaches with 18” (450mm) culverts through a Registration Application License vs. the current Water Control Works License. Carried

Waldner/Bromley

Be it resolved that Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby award the 2023 Grounds Maintenance RFP to Bluebird Yard & Garden Service as per the submitted proposal. Carried

user annual use of transfer station fee (discus

sion)

Administration will review options for Outside User Annual Use of Transfer Station Fees and obtain RFPs for additional cameras at the transfers sites due to the amount of unauthorized usage.

Ward, Reeve and administration reports Ward 1 - Councillor Waldner reported that spot gravelling was done on Douglas Road.

Ward 2 -Councillor Campbell reported that NextGen was reviewing Wheatbelt Road which ended up being a frost boil that just required time to thaw; options for clay will be assessed on Gourlay Road once road restrictions are removed; and a request for dust control on Road 107W due to high semi traffic.

Ward 3 - Councillor Paterson had nothing to report. Ward 4 - Councillor Pankratz reported that he assisted with a couple of uncontrolled fires that occurred in Minto-Odanah and Elton which required citizens with equipment and fire departments to respond.

Ward 5 - Councillor Hales had nothing to report.

WARD 6 - Councillor Bromley reported on an uncontrolled fire on Road 72N in Ward 6; Public Works fixing the machinery road on 66N east of Rugby Road; and a meeting regarding the Brandon Regional Health Centre expansion.

Reeve report - Reeve Bollman had nothing to report.

Administration report - CAO Paulsen reported on staff attending the annual Manitoba Municipal Administration conference which included a cemetery maintenance session that was very informative; a speed sign that was placed on Elton Road in the Municipal Yard to remind people of the speed entering into the Village of Forrest; Manitoba Hydro no longer providing lighting at any sites other than street lighting; and the Abuse and Sexual Misconduct Policy revisions received from the lawyer that will be circulated to Council prior to the June meeting.

Waldner/Hales - be it resolved that Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby authorize Mark Emrick to attend annual Manitoba Association of Municipal Emergency Coordinators (MAMEC) Conference in Winnipeg on June 20, 2023 (9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.) at a cost of $225.00 per attendee plus all expenses as per Policy No. 24-2012. Carried

Machinery/Property – including accessibility - Councillor Campbell reported that the grader has been ordered and will be delivered early 2024 and that two extensions are being made for the moldboards on the graders.

Personnel/health & safety - Councillor Bromley reported that CAO Shawna Paulsen received her 10-year pin from the Manitoba Municipal Administration Association.

Planning & economic development - Councillor Campbell reported that the Development Plan Open House is Wednesday, May 10, 2023. The Administrative and Technical Assistant at the Keystone Planning District office has resigned and the interviewing process will take place May 11, 2023 to find a replacement.

Roads - Councillor Hales reported that he will meet with Bob Christie and Bluestar Construction Ltd. at the Christie Pit between May 10 - 19.

Integrated waste - Councillor Hales reported that additional meetings will be held between Evergreen Environmental Technologies, Celtic, and their respective lawyers.

Central Assiniboine watershed district - Councillor Pankratz attended a meeting regarding wild boars and tile drainage. The district received a grant for LiDAR Surface Water Management, which will include Elton.

15.9.3 Delta Aquifer Management - Councillor Pankratz had nothing to report.

15.9.4 Whitemud watershed district - Councillor Pankratz reported that there are some programs available to Whitehead Watershed District citizens and requested that Administration promote them through the Elton website and social media.

Hales/Paterson

continued on page 11

CLASSIFIEDS

Help Wanted Manitoba Community Newspaper Association Province Wide Classifieds

FOODS

Production Worker

Why join our team?

HyLife is a global leader in food processing. Our vision is to be the best food company in the world. To achieve this, we need talented people like you to join our team. HyLife creates limitless opportunities for passionate individuals, and we have an exciting new career opportunity located in Neepawa, MB for you to explore!

The current starting wage is $16.10/hour

PLUS opportunities for pay increases and competitive bonuses.

Our wage bracket extends to $24.05 per hour

We Will Train the Right Candidate

Quick Facts:

• Culturally diverse – employ people from all over the world

• Fully integrated facility – Feed Mills, Barns, Transportation, and Production Plant

4000+ employees worldwide

We Care about our employees, communities, customers, animals, and our environment

What we can offer you:

• Competitive Wage

• Vacation

• Benefits package – dental coverage, vision care, extended health care, & more!

Secure, stable, and permanent full-time employment

PM Shift Premium

Full training, with genuine opportunities for career progression

• Employee Referral program - $500!

• Multiple Shift Options

• Free parking

• Company events

And more!!!!

Your duties may include:

Slaughtering hogs (eviscerate, hide removal, etc.)

Butcher and package pork primal cuts into value-added specifications for local, national, and international premium markets

• Maintaining our sanitation program

We are looking for people who are:

Fit and capable of working in a physically demanding role

Capable of repetitive manual tasks and standing for long periods of time

Open to working in colder/warmer environments

• Experience as an industrial butcher or trimmer is an asset

Ways to apply:

Online at http://hylife.com/current-opportunities/ or mail to PO Box 10,000, 623 Main St E, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0. HyLife has an accommodation process for employees with disabilities. If you require a specific accommodation during your employment because of a disability, please contact Jobs@hylife.com. An HR representative will be in touch with you as soon as possible. Reasonable accommodations will be determined on a case-by-case basis and our accommodation policy can be forwarded upon request.

We want it to be YOU! Come join our HyLife team.

We thank all applicants, however, only those under consideration will be contacted

Rolling River School Division

in southwestern Manitoba, Canada near Riding Mountain National Park and Brandon. RRSD invites applications for a Early Childhood Education Facilitator

For more details and application information, please visit our website at www.rrsd.mb.ca select Employment then Support Positions.

Thank you to all applicants for their interest in Rolling River School Division. Only those candidates selected for interviews will be contacted.

The family of Jill White would like to thank everyone for the cards, food, thoughts and prayers in this difficult time. We knew when we moved here that the Rivers community was a caring community and have seen it these last few weeks.

There will be a celebration of life BBQ at 660 5th ave. on Saturday June 10th from 1-4 pm. Everyone is welcome to come for a bite to eat, a drink or just to say hello.

Sincerely Cam and girls

CARD OF THANKS

The family of Jill White would like to thank Drs Nowosad, Dhaliwal, Minders and especially Dr Moller for the excellent care Jill received in her recent struggle with cancer We would also like to thank the outstanding staff on 400G and A3 in Brandon for their compassion and caring of not only Jill but our entire family

Sincerely, Cam White

NOTICES

Advertisements and statements contained herein are the sole responsibility of the persons or entities that post the advertisement, and the Manitoba Community Newspaper Association and membership do not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, truthfulness or reliability of such advertisements.

For greater information on advertising conditions, please consult the Association’s Blanket Advertising Conditions on our website at www.mcna.com.

URGENT PRESS RELEASES - Have a newsworthy item to announce? An exciting change in operations?

Though we cannot guarantee publication, MCNA will get the information into the right hands for ONLY $35.00 + GST/HST. Call MCNA (204) 947-1691 for more information. See

www.mcna.com under the “Types of Advertising” tab for more details.

HIRING??? Need Class 1 Drivers or Summer Help?

BOOK YOUR 2023 BLAN-

KET CLASSIFIED ADS

NOW in the 32 Weekly Manitoba Community Newspapers to get your messaging to be seen all over the province! Let people know in the Blanket Classifieds! Call THIS NEWSPAPER NOW or call MCNA at (204) 947-1691 for more details or to book ads.

MCNA - Manitoba Community Newspapers Association. www.mcna.com

BUSINESS SERVICES / FINANCIAL SERVICES

Private mortgage lender. All real estate types considered. No credit checks done. Deal direct with lender and get quick approval. Toll free 1-866405-1228 www.firstandsecondmortgages.ca

Announcement

we joyfully invite you to a

BRIDAL SHOWER HONOURING

Molly Jay

join us for a tea party Sunday, June fourth at 1pm Barbi and Kevin’s house

Contact Barbi for more information (204) 328-7069

Molly is registerd at myregistry.com

Bring a favourite recipe and be put in a draw. Lots of games and prizes and of course lots of delicious food! There will be a money tree to purchase a giftfor those who don’t want to use the registry. Please feel free to dress for a garden party!

Manitoba Government accepting applications under two new funding streams for agriculture producers

Submitted Rivers Banner

The Manitoba government has opened intakes for two new programs under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) that provide funding to support sustainable farming in Manitoba, federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau and Manitoba Agriculture Minister Derek Johnson announced today.

“Farmers are on the front lines when it comes to the impact of climate change,” said Bibeau. “By investing in on-farm environmental solutions, we can continue to grow a sustainable sector that is more resilient to extreme weather while helping our farmers reduce their environmental footprint.”

“Our government is committed to supporting our producers to be champions of agricultural sustainability, and creating opportunities to help farmers reach their business goals,” said Johnson. “These two new funding opportunities build on our previous investments and enable farmers to grow their businesses while enhancing the sustainability and growth of the sector overall.”

The Sustainable Agriculture Manitoba (SAM) program provides funding to help farmers and land managers implement cost-shared beneficial management practices that increase the environmental and economic sustainability of agriculture operations in Manitoba. Priority areas for funding include climate change adaptation and mitigation, air quality, water quality and quantity, soil health and biodiversity.

Johnson noted a variety of beneficial management practices are eligible for cost-shared funding in categories including cropland management, manure and livestock management and water management.

Practices in these categories have been developed with

Hamiota ~ Brandon ~ Birtle

the goal of ensuring enhanced environmental outcomes and will support federal climate objectives, as well as provincial goals under the Manitoba Protein Advantage Strategy, the Water Management Strategy and the Madein-Manitoba Climate and Green Plan.

The deadline to apply for SAM beneficial management practices funding is June 6.

Funding for the agriculture sector is also available through the Resilient Agricultural Landscape Program (RALP), a cost-shared federal-provincial/territorial program funded under the Sustainable CAP that supports the provision of ecological goods and services by the agriculture sector, such as maintaining and restoring grasslands and wetlands on agricultural lands, Johnson noted.

Funding through the RALP: Carbon Sequestration and Grassland Resilience stream will support on-farm beneficial management practices and projects that enhance the provision of ecological goods and services, with an emphasis on projects that sequester carbon and improve sustainability and productivity through grassland management and agroforestry practices. Eligible applicants include community pastures, agricultural Crown land forage lease-holders, Indigenous farmers and communities, including First Nations and Métis, and farmers outside of watershed district boundaries. The deadline to apply for funding through this stream is June 5.

Watershed districts are eligible for RALP: Watershed Resilience programming, where the districts will collaborate with farmers within district boundaries to implement projects on agricultural land. Farmers are encouraged to contact their local watershed districts to inquire about any potential programs that may be available, said Johnson.

“Manitoba’s cattle producers have a long history of using management practices that help support the health of our grasslands, wetlands, and soil, and which provide biodivers-

Serving Rivers and area since 1906. Phone 204-727-0694 or 1-800-897-5694 www.brockiedonovan.com

ity for many animal and plant species. These practices not only contribute to the environmental and economic resiliency of the producers, but these benefits are also felt beyond the farm gate,” said Matthew Atkinson, president, Manitoba Beef Producers (MBP). “MBP welcomes the federal and provincial governments’ recognition of and support for the varied ecosystem services being provided by beef producers in managing private and public lands.”

Johnson noted applicants for these environmental programs must have a valid statement of completion for an environmental farm plan at the time of claim.

“As a farmer-led group, Manitoba Forage and Grassland Association (MFGA) fully appreciates the importance and significance of the two programs announced today around the stewardship and retention of natural infrastructure such as grasslands in the Carbon Sequestration and Grassland Resilience stream and the focus on watershed health via Watershed Resilience programming,” said Lawrence Knockaert, chair, MFGA. “When combined with the progressions and increasing want of farmers of all stripes – dairy, livestock, grain, mixed farms and others – there is great potential for farmers interested in sustainable agriculture practices around soil health, land and water management to improve the sustainability of their farms while benefiting their local communities and society.”

The Sustainable CAP is a five-year $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation, and resiliency of the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector. This includes $1 billion in federal programs and activities and a $2.5-billion commitment that is cost-shared 60 per cent federally and 40 per cent provincially/territorially for programs designed and delivered by provinces and territories.

Stewart Endeavors

Gravel - Sand - Stone - End Dump/ Belly Dump Services - Excavating stewie13@mts.net 204-365-0086

Alex Stewart Box 916, Rivers MB, R0K1X0

Rivers Comets vs Deloraine Royals in season opener High School baseball team second in division

Submitted

By Jocelyn Beever

It’s a win! The Comets downed the Deloraine Royals 19 - 3.

We have some new players, so here’s the starting line up:

12 Layton Veitch - LF, 3 Braeden Clarke - RF, 4 Michael McFadden - CF, 5 Scott Beever - P, 22 Layne Anderson - 2nd, 19 Aaron Tycoles - 1st, 18 Luke Hrycak - 3rd, 13 Fred hrycak - C, 16 Kaelen Huibers - SS

Also in the game were: 11 Shayne Wiebe, 20 Jayden Tait, 17 Cale Shaw

Beever was on fire, throwing 12 strikeouts in 5 innings, allowing only 2 hits and 2 walks. McFadden was solid in relief. Their only foil was Eric Sorenson who hit two home runs - one on Beever in the first inning with a runner on, and one on McFadden in the sixth, to account for their three runs.

The Comets 19 runs came on 15 hits, 13 RBIs. McFadden scored 3 runs on 4 hits with 1 RBI. Huibers tripled knocking in 3 runs and a total of 5 RBIS. Fred Hrycak doubled driving in 2 runs and a total of 3 RBIs. Veitch, Beever and Huibers each had 2 hits. Clarke, Anderson, Luke Hrycak, and Tait contributed with singles.

Congratulations to Lorne Green on winning the 50/50.

Our next game is Friday, May 26th when we take on the Hamiota Red Sox at Nurtien Field at 7 PM. See you there!

4-H Manitoba 2023 Scholarship Recipients Announced

Submitted Rivers Banner

The Manitoba 4-H Council Board of Directors and Staff would like to congratulate our 2023 Scholarship Recipients. We also want to wish our Graduates the best of luck as they transition into their future education plans.

2023 4-H Scholarship Winners

Manitoba 4-H Council – 10 @ $1,000.00

Emma Fox - North Parkland

Kaitlyn Greigson - South Interlake

Talia Iwanchysko - North Parkland

Raylyn Koshowski - North Parkland

Justin McKee - South Parkland

Sarah Meggison - Southwest

Brooklyn Piasta - Red River

Jolie Richmond - North Parkland

Aidan Tully - Red River

Charlene Walker - Eastman

Manitoba Pork Council – 1 @ $1,000.00

Shavaughn Jochum - Red River (Future Leaders Club)

York-Benimaru Foundation – 1 @ $1,000.00

Judah Chepil - Eastman

John and Ona Schellenberg Bursary for PostSecondary Students – 1 @ $10,000.00

Oksana Iwanchysko - Red River (Future Leaders Club)

John and Ona Schellenberg Bursary for Agriculture & Pre-Vet Studies – 5 @ $2,000.00

Emily Robb - Southwest & Red River (Future Leaders Club)

Autumn Smith - Southwest

Cole Topham - South Parkland

Ashlyn Whetter - Red River (Future Leaders Club)

James Young - Central Plains

By Jessica Coulter Rivers Banner

Hamiota’s team, in the Prairie West High School Baseball League took to the field two more times this past week.

The away game for Wednesday, May 17, at 5:30pm was in Dauphin. They were defeated by Dauphin with a score of 8 - 6.

A home game was played in Hamiota, Tuesday, May 23, at 5:30pm. The final score was Hamiota 12, Neelin 6.

Hamiota is currently second in the North Division.

RM of Elton Draft Meeting Minutes notes - May 9, 2023 continued from page 8

Whereas Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton received written Notice to Reconsider Motion 2023-044 at the regular Council meeting on April 11, 2023 which stated:

Be it resolved that the Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby rescind By-law No. 1502 (Amgt. with HMQ for Gas Tax Rebates Years 2015 - 2019).

And whereas Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton passed Resolution #2023-076 at the regular Council meeting on April 11, 2023 which stated:

Be it resolved that the Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby agree to reconsider Resolution No. 2023-044, which rescinded By-law No. 1502 (Agmt. with HMQ for Gas Tax Rebates Years 2015 - 2019), at the May 9, 2023 meeting, as motioned by Reeve Bollman in writing on April 6, 2023.

And whereas by-laws must be repealed by by-law and Council has the power to amend and repeal a by-law as per the Manitoba Municipal Act under Section 147(1).

Now therefore be it resolved that the Council of the Rural Municipality of Elton hereby rescind Resolution No. 2023-044. Carried

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

SUBMITTED PHOTOS

More Rapid City Rodeo coverage

By Jessica Coulter Rivers Banner

continued from page 1

Hudson Bond from Kenton, wearing #40, competed in high school barrel racing placing 4th on Saturday and 4th on Sunday. She also competed in the high school breakaway roping and placed 21st on Saturday and 18th on Sunday. Placed 7th in high school pole bending on Saturday and 8th on Sunday. Placed 10th in high school team roping on Saturday and 15th on Sunday.

Rudy Bond from Kenton, wearing #24, competed in high school barrel racing placing 24th on Saturday and 1st on Sunday. She also competed in the high school breakaway roping and placed 3rd on Saturday and 19th on Sunday. Placed 5th in high school pole bending on Saturday and 5th on Sunday.

Ricki Hill from Lenore, wearing #77, competed in high school barrel racing placing 23rd on Saturday and 23rd on Sunday. Ricki also competed in the high school goat tying and placed 18th on Saturday and 20th on Sunday. Placed 33rd in high school pole bending on Saturday and 19th on Sunday.

Jorja Robins from Rapid City, wearing #29, competed in junior high barrel racing placing 2nd on Saturday and 14th on Sunday. She also competed in the junior high girl’s breakaway and placed 8th on Saturday and 7th on Sunday. Placed 13th in junior high girl’s goat tying on Saturday and 16th place on Sunday. Placed 8th in junior high pole bending on Saturday and 9th on Sunday. Placed 17th in junior high ribbon roping on Saturday and 8th on Sunday.

Ellie Slimmon from Lenore, wearing #56, competed in high school barrel racing placing 20th on Saturday and 24th on Sunday. She also competed in the high school goat tying and placed 16th on Saturday and 15th on Sunday. Placed 23rd in high school pole bending on Saturday and 11th on Sunday.

Jessica Wright from Rapid City, wearing #22, competed in junior high barrel racing placing 3rd on Saturday and 3rd on Sunday. She also competed in the junior high girl’s breakaway and placed 3rd on Saturday and 10th on Sunday. Placed 1st in junior high girl’s goat tying on Saturday and 1st place on Sunday. Placed 7th in junior high pole bending on Saturday and 7th on Sunday. Placed 18th in junior high ribbon roping on Saturday and 17th on Sunday.

Please vote online for the Forrest Project

Katie Wright from Rapid City, wearing #46, competed in high school barrel racing placing 15th on Saturday and 12th on Sunday. She also competed in the high school breakaway roping and placed 7th on Saturday and 8th on Sunday. Placed 27th in high school pole bending on Saturday and 20th on Sunday. The MHSRA has over 26 years of experience. The province of Manitoba began hosting High School rodeos in 1995. In 2004, the Junior High Division rodeos also started up, offering junior high school kids an opportunity to begin their rodeo education at age 12. Gilbert Plains is hosting the junior high school finals May 26 – 28. Oak Lake will be hosting the high school rodeo finals June 2 – 4. For more details and for the each of our community riders standings, please visit https://mhsra.ca/.

By Jessica Coulter Rivers Banner

Each year, BASF Canada Agricultural Solutions invests in the communities where we live, work and serve. This year, BASF is giving back bigger and better. The judging panel has selected five finalists per province. Forrest Special Projects Group has been selected as one of the finalists.

The Forrest Special Projects Group current initiative is the development of a community park. Within this project, we envision a centrally located outdoor playground, picnic area and multisport court that promotes physical activity and community-based belonging to foster the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of our community members.

The group would like to thank the Rivers and Area Community Foundation for donating to the project. They feel very fortunate to have the support of the Rivers community.

The project is not complete yet. The group needs our help. To reach the final goal they need everyone in our communities to vote at https://agro.basf.ca/growinghome/voting.html. The finalist for the BASF Growing Home contest could win $25K, but they need our votes. The contest ends May 31st.

SUBMITTED PHOTO

23061SS2 23061SS3

PHOTOS BY JONNA MITTON PHOTOGRAPHY